“Uncle Mingyu, simply put, a noble in the capital took a liking to the Ye family’s estate and Cousin Shijie’s official career, deliberately staging a play to lure the prey into the trap. However, the play went wrong.”
Ye Mingyu was somewhat dazed. He didn’t fully understand Jiang Li’s words, yet he wasn’t completely clueless either.
The Ye family was extremely wealthy in Northern Yan. Such vast family fortune inevitably provoked envy. Besides jealous competitors in the same trade, there were also others harboring ill intentions. Wanting to use the Ye family, to use the Ye family’s enormous wealth to employ despicable methods wasn’t impossible. But Jiang Li’s words vaguely revealed one thing—the person hidden behind Dafeng Pharmacy, even behind Tong Zhiyang and his brother-in-law, very likely wielded immense power.
People with immense power were never easy to provoke.
Everyone knew the principle that commoners don’t fight officials. Though Ye Mingyu was brave and fearless, the entire Ye family wasn’t an impregnable fortress. Being targeted by such a person, they could escape once—but what about twice? Three times? They couldn’t always be lucky.
He murmured, “How can one guard against thieves for a thousand days…”
“Uncle Mingyu needn’t belittle yourself. The Ye family and Jiang family also have marriage ties. As long as I’m alive, I won’t let the Jiang and Ye families break off relations. My father and second uncle hold significant positions in court. That person may be a noble, but our Jiang family isn’t lowly either. The Ye family can’t just be bullied by anyone. There’s also Cousin Shijie—he’s already Vice Minister of Revenue now. Starting so high, he’ll only become more successful in the future. When Cousin Shijie reaches a certain position, the Ye family will have a natural shield.”
Jiang Li paused, then continued, “Why did those people choose to act now? Simply because Cousin Shijie’s wings aren’t fully grown yet. Once the beast grows claws and fangs, striking will become extremely difficult. Since they didn’t succeed this time, finding opportunities in the future will only become harder and harder.”
Hearing this explanation, Ye Mingyu felt somewhat comforted. Thinking of Jiang Li’s words, he couldn’t help feeling ashamed. “This way, we’ve dragged your father and the Jiang family into trouble. Either way, it’s problematic.”
“Family doesn’t speak of two households,” Jiang Li smiled. “Who knows—one day the Jiang family might face catastrophe, and then we’ll need the Ye family to help.”
Ye Mingyu was amused by her. “Ah Li, you’re really bluffing. The Jiang family would never fall to needing us Ye family’s help. Don’t say such absurd things just to comfort me.”
Jiang Li neither confirmed nor denied this. In her view, the future was hard to predict. Right now, Prince Cheng allied with the Right Chancellor—the greater their power, the worse for the Jiang family. Emperor Hongxiao was currently weak. Whether the world would fall into Prince Cheng’s hands in the future remained unknown. Though she was working hard to prevent this situation, she couldn’t control what problems might arise for the Jiang family before then. Fortune turns in cycles. The Jiang family had been successful for so many years—who knew what the future held?
Jiang Li set aside these thoughts and smiled. “Regardless, the Guxiang silk matter is temporarily resolved. Tong Zhiyang’s mistress and son are a problem. Since this prefect kept his word, we should still follow our agreement and return his beauty and son.”
“Just return them like that?” Ye Mingyu felt somewhat indignant. After learning the truth Tong Zhiyang wrote in his letter, he was very displeased. Originally, Tong Zhiyang had wanted to join in throwing mud at the Ye family. Now, though the Ye family cleared their grievance, restoring the Guxiang silk business in the future would be very difficult. Yet Tong Zhiyang faced no consequences. This wasn’t fair.
“One must keep one’s word,” Jiang Li smiled kindly. “Tong Zhiyang treasures his son so much precisely because Tong Yu is his only male heir. Having his only heir wander outside isn’t a good thing. This time we’ll do a good deed and help Tong Yu while we’re at it. Let the He family also learn of Tong Yu’s existence. This way, Tong Yu needn’t be an illegitimate child but can be the prefect’s legitimate young master. In the future when Tong Zhiyang rises in rank, at least he’ll have an heir. Isn’t that right?”
She spoke with a pleasant smile, her expression sincere. Every sentence seemed to consider Tong Zhiyang’s interests. Anyone who saw her wouldn’t doubt her good intentions.
Listening, Ye Mingyu’s expression grew strange. After hearing Jiang Li’s last word, he couldn’t help laughing heartily. “A true man does what should be done and avoids what shouldn’t—but today I learned that young ladies aren’t to be trifled with either!”
Whenever Jiang Li spoke of schemes, she was always very forthright, turning conspiracies into open strategies—something only she could do. This method couldn’t really be called honorable. After just saying they should “keep their word,” she immediately added an enormous problem for Tong Zhiyang. But as a Ye family member, after hearing this, Ye Mingyu felt extremely satisfied. Days of depression were swept away.
“Tong Zhiyang fears his wife like a tiger. Hearing the reply location was at the He residence, he didn’t even dare send people to follow. This shows how much he dreads his wife. Now that He Shi learns of this mother and son’s existence, Tong Zhiyang’s good days are over. Setting aside everything else, whether he can keep his prefect position secure will depend on whether He Shi shows mercy. However, everyone in Xiangyang City knows the prefect’s wife is most harsh and mean, fierce and formidable. Hahaha, Ah Li, this move of yours is very clever!”
“Uncle flatters me.” Jiang Li smiled modestly. From the start, she never intended to let Tong Zhiyang off. Someone like Tong Zhiyang was a disaster left alive. Who knew if he’d trip up the Ye family again in the future? Letting him get entangled with He Shi and become Xiangyang City’s laughingstock—when this joke spread to the capital, reaching that person’s ears, it would at least upset them. That was good.
They couldn’t let people do endless bad deeds without any punishment.
Ye Mingyu was an impetuous person who acted on impulse. Thinking of this, he immediately stood. “No time to waste. I’ve long wanted to see that bastard Tong Zhiyang lose face. Ah Li, wait at the residence. This time watch how I avenge our Ye family!”
He turned and disappeared through the door.
After Ye Mingyu left, Tong’er asked worriedly, “Miss, if Third Master does this, won’t there be problems? What if He Shi and Tong Zhiyang join forces and turn on us?”
“Don’t worry, they won’t.” Jiang Li smiled. “Palm and back of hand are both flesh—He Shi definitely can’t tolerate Tong Yu, while Tong Zhiyang must protect him. Tong Yu alone can make the couple’s household erupt in chaos. With just a little provocation, complete estrangement is only a matter of time.”
Hearing this explanation, Tong’er felt relieved.
But Jiang Li didn’t relax her brow.
The Ye family matter had temporarily concluded, but her business remained unresolved. Her true purpose in returning to Xiangyang wasn’t this—it was Tongxiang…
Her father, Xue Huaiyuan.
…
Ye Mingyu acted quickly, even faster than Jiang Li expected. That very afternoon, Xiangyang City witnessed a spectacle.
Before the Tong residence, Tong Zhiyang and Prefect’s Wife He Shi had a huge fight. He even slapped He Shi. Everyone in Xiangyang City knew Tong Zhiyang feared his wife like a tiger. Usually when he saw his wife, he was like a mouse seeing a cat—he didn’t dare say a contradictory word, much less strike his wife. Yet in broad daylight, before everyone’s eyes, Tong Zhiyang had grown a lion’s heart and leopard’s courage and slapped his wife.
The bewildered citizens watched with great interest, then noticed behind Tong Zhiyang he was protecting a young, beautiful woman and a small boy who somewhat resembled him. The situation became crystal clear—Prefect Tong, who never frequented brothels, had actually kept a mistress outside and even had a son. Now the scandal was exposed. Somehow his wife discovered it and was naturally dealing with him.
However, Tong Zhiyang appeared determined to stand with his mistress, actually striking his wife for the mistress and her son. Could this be tolerated? The He family wasn’t to be trifled with. Everyone knew Tong Zhiyang’s position today was entirely thanks to He Shi’s natal family.
“You murderous bastard!” Having been slapped, her hair disheveled, He Shi didn’t care about her dignified official wife’s appearance. She pointed at Tong Zhiyang’s nose and cursed, “You actually dare hit me for this slut? Tong Zhiyang, your courage grows greater and greater!”
Actually, after slapping He Shi, Tong Zhiyang immediately regretted it. Everything he had came from He Shi. Striking He Shi meant no good would come later. But seeing He Shi about to strike Tong Yu, he truly couldn’t restrain himself. Tong Yu was his only son. This poisonous woman He Shi wouldn’t even spare his own flesh and blood.
Thinking this, he steeled his heart and simply shouted loudly, “Poisonous woman! I’ve long had enough of you! After years of marriage, you bear no children. The Tong family can’t end with me. According to the seven grounds for divorce, being childless alone allows me to divorce you. Suqin bore my Tong family a son. Not only can’t you tolerate her, you want to viciously harm Yu’er. How can there be such a venomous woman in this world!”
“Divorce me?” He Shi laughed instead of getting angry. “Fine! If you have the guts to divorce me, write the divorce papers now. I won’t say another word. But remember well—your Tong family’s mansion, servants, and even your prefect status all belong to me. Without me, you’re nothing! You want to preserve the Tong family line? Fine! Let’s see what you’ll use to continue your lineage without silver!” She waved her hand, directly ordering the Tong family servants to follow her back to the residence. Entering the Tong residence, she had servants slam the gate shut with a “bang.”
She actually wouldn’t let Tong Zhiyang enter!
Tong Zhiyang was after all a prefect. Though suppressed by He Shi all these years, he always maintained dignity before the people. Now publicly thrown out in front of everyone—how could he save face? He immediately ordered the crowd to disperse, yet his face remained full of embarrassment.
Seeing the amused expressions on the spectators’ faces, Tong Zhiyang felt both angry and resentful. Angry at somehow letting He Shi discover Suqin and her son’s existence, resentful that He Shi showed no marital affection. Following this came a trace of uneasy fear.
He Shi indeed could strip away everything he currently possessed. If he wasn’t prefect and had no money, what would he do in the future?
Now he was truly caught between a rock and hard place, at a loss.
…
Ye Mingyu recounted the events at the Tong residence gate to everyone.
Speaking of Tong Zhiyang’s disgrace, Ye Mingyu only gloated. He vividly described He Shi’s ferocity and Tong Zhiyang’s outward strength but inner weakness.
Guan Shi said in surprise, “Never expected Prefect Tong, who usually seemed to obey He Shi completely, secretly kept a mistress. He was actually two-faced—even having such a grown son.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, truly unexpected.” Ye Mingxuan shook his head. “Logically, Tong Zhiyang concealed this so long—clearly this matter was airtight. How could He Shi catch him at precisely this critical moment?”
“Those who walk by the river inevitably get wet shoes,” Ye Rufeng said disdainfully. “What he did himself—paper can’t wrap fire. Sooner or later people would know.”
Ye Mingyu and Jiang Li exchanged a glance. Only the two of them in the Ye family knew about Tong Zhiyang’s mistress and son. They didn’t tell Ye Minghui and the others for fear they’d oppose from the start. Though the Ye family was extremely wealthy, precisely because their business was so large, they were usually extra careful, doing business by the rules. Ye Mingyu was different—he was bold and dared to act. Jiang Li could only discuss with him without fearing his disagreement.
“Tong Zhiyang’s official path will be difficult now.” Ye Mingxuan said. “Even if just to teach a lesson, He Shi won’t let him have it as easy as before. She might reduce his authority.”
“For us, it’s actually a good thing.” Ye Jia’er said. “However… even so, the Guxiang silk business has plummeted.”
Tang Fan had people explain the full story of the Ye family’s Guxiang silk incident. But common people only cared about results, not the twists and turns in between. Whether or not others framed them, the problem was with the Ye family’s Guxiang silk. Wearing Guxiang silk might cause death, so they wouldn’t wear it.
The weaving workshop had restarted fabric production, but no one dared buy the newest batch of Guxiang silk. Helplessly, Ye Minghui could only halt all workshop production. But until now, they hadn’t thought of a good solution.
“Why not just stop this business?” Ye Mingyu said carelessly. “Our Ye family’s wealth can last several generations anyway. Who needs to desperately earn silver? Why not learn from those wealthy families’ spoiled young masters—traveling and enjoying life daily?”
This didn’t sound like something a Ye family member would say. Sure enough, at these words, Ye Minghui looked sternly at his brother. “You’d better not mention such words before Mother. All these years, I see you’ve grown older in vain, becoming more immature!”
Guan Shi said helplessly, “Third Brother, this isn’t about whether we do business or not. Father and Mother built the Ye family business with their own hands. You know how much effort Mother spent on Guxiang silk back then. How can we let the Ye family business be ruined in our hands? If so, how will we face Father in the underworld?”
“Yes, Third Uncle,” Ye Jia’er also said. “Right now Big Brother is serving as an official in court. I heard being an official requires silver for various expenses. The capital can’t compare to Xiangyang—silver won’t last long. We can’t make Big Brother live poorly in the capital.”
“Exactly,” Ye Mingxuan also said. “Even Jia’er is more sensible than you.” He glanced at Jiang Li. “Besides, this time when Guxiang silk had problems, if Ah Li hadn’t stepped forward using the Jiang family’s name, how could we have escaped unscathed? They just helped you, and you immediately stop doing business. What would the Jiang family think?”
Jiang Li understood Ye Mingxuan’s meaning. Setting herself aside, though Jiang Yuanbai was in officialdom, actually today’s officialdom and merchants ultimately shared the same path, both valuing profit. Jiang Yuanbai helped the Ye family—what use did the Ye family have? Simply that their business was somewhat larger than others. Once the Ye family stopped this business, they’d have no use at all. Jiang Yuanbai saved the Ye family for nothing, truly gaining nothing—an unprofitable deal.
Though the words were harsh, Ye Mingxuan wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Alright, alright, you’re all saying I’m immature.” Attacked from all sides, Ye Mingyu quickly clasped his hands in a pleading gesture. “I can’t out-argue you all. It’s all my fault. But this isn’t up to me. It looks like the Guxiang silk business can’t continue. Our Ye family’s weaving mainly relied on Guxiang silk, right?”
The Ye family members all fell silent.
Jiang Li asked, “Does the Ye family’s weaving have nothing besides Guxiang silk?”
“It’s not that there’s nothing else.” Guan Shi explained. “Actually besides Guxiang silk, our workshop weaves many other fabrics. But those fabrics others can also weave. The ones others can’t weave aren’t very attractive. Back when Mother was with Father, every so often they’d produce fashionable fabrics. But the only one that lasted was Guxiang silk.”
“Guxiang silk is superior material and naturally fragrant. Wealthy families like using it. Even common people, with some spare silver, are willing to buy a bolt or two to make clothes for holidays. Therefore, there’s no shortage of buyers.”
Jiang Li thought for a moment. “In the end, the reason the Ye family built their fortune on Guxiang silk is because Guxiang silk was beloved, not irreplaceable. As long as we create fabric more attractive than Guxiang silk, won’t we be able to restore our reputation?”
The room quieted. Ye Jia’er said, “Cousin, though it sounds simple, all these years, countless fabric merchants in Northern Yan have made countless patterns. What you can make, others can make too. Forget being beloved—even being irreplaceable isn’t something easily achieved.”
This was true. Guxiang silk’s irreplaceability came from the fabric’s natural fragrance—that was the Ye family’s closely guarded secret formula. But secret formulas weren’t things you could just find on the street. Sometimes a hundred years might pass without one appearing. Yet sometimes, one secret formula could save an entire family.
“Doesn’t Uncle Mingyu travel outside year-round?” Jiang Li looked at Ye Mingyu. “Speaking of fresh materials no one’s seen, Uncle Mingyu should have seen many.”
To find a “secret formula,” one needed to find fresh “materials.” The Ye family all stayed in Xiangyang and rarely saw much. But Ye Mingyu was different. He traveled everywhere from deserts to grasslands and would always see rare items others didn’t. Among those items, who knew—there might be something that could create new fabric.
Everyone looked at Ye Mingyu. He touched his nose, somewhat embarrassed, and said quietly, “I do see many rare items constantly, but they’re all unrelated to the fabric business. Going out to have fun, who still thinks about business…”
Both Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan showed expressions of frustrated disappointment. This unreliable brother was universally known.
But Jiang Li didn’t lose heart.
She said, “It needn’t necessarily be rare items related to weaving. For instance, the box of peacock feathers Uncle Mingyu gave me—couldn’t that be used in fabric?”
“Peacock feathers?” Ye Mingyu was stunned.
“What peacock feathers?” Ye Mingxuan asked.
“When Third Uncle returned, he brought several boxes of pretty shells that look like peacock feathers. They’re quite pretty but not worth much silver.” Ye Rufeng said irritably, then looked curiously at Jiang Li. “How can peacock feathers be used in fabric?”
Ye Mingyu also looked at her. Though he found these shells, as for actually using them, he was completely clueless. When he originally bought these peacock feathers, he hadn’t thought of business at all. Having silver and finding them pretty, he’d bought them on a whim as a curiosity.
“I just suddenly thought of this.” Jiang Li smiled. “I know nothing about fabric matters. This is just a sudden thought. If I’m wrong, please don’t laugh at me. Peacock feathers have tiny phosphorescent light. I once read a book of strange tales. It mentioned sea fairy islands with fairies wearing clothes with tiny phosphorescent light like water ripples—not embroidered with gold or silver thread, but seeming like pearl luster. Bright colored yet not vulgar. I thought—since Guxiang silk can make fabric naturally fragrant, perhaps peacock feathers can make fabric produce the shimmering light described in the tales. Of course, it needn’t necessarily use peacock feathers. As long as materials can make fabric emit light similar to peacock feathers, that would work.”
“Moreover, having strange tales as documentation, if brought to capital nobles, it would definitely be loved by young ladies. Though Guxiang silk can’t continue, the Ye family’s reputation remains. Creating new fabric more attractive than Guxiang silk would gradually form a new business.”
Jiang Li spoke unhurriedly, as if very confident in her words. Actually, only she knew she wasn’t very certain this would work. Specialization in trades was about detailed work. But worldly matters often connected—people good at one thing usually weren’t bad at others. Doing business and studying weren’t entirely opposite.
Her idea was obviously unexpected. After silent contemplation for who knows how long, Ye Minghui suddenly stood and said to Ye Mingyu, “Go get your peacock feathers for me to see. Tomorrow we’ll go to the workshop.”
Ye Mingyu was stunned, not yet recovered, when he saw Ye Mingxuan also grow excited. “I think this is a good idea. It might work. First go to the workshop to see if it’s possible. If it works… if it works…” He paused, as if unable to suppress his joy, before saying the rest. “The Ye family may be welcoming a new prosperous era.”
Hearing this, Ye Jia’er and Ye Rufeng also grew expectant. Looking at Jiang Li, their eyes couldn’t help showing something different.
She seemed to know everything, always able to forge a brand new path from desperate situations, leading everyone toward new directions. She was forever full of hope, making people feel secure.
Jiang Li felt the Ye family’s grateful gazes and smiled faintly.
She had done what she could do.
Next was another matter—one that wouldn’t succeed just through her efforts alone.
…
Ye Mingyu took everyone to see the peacock feathers. Jiang Li didn’t follow.
She first went to see Old Madam Ye for a while, accompanying her in conversation. Old Madam Ye’s spirits had improved greatly these days. She’d also heard about Jiang Li’s proposal to use peacock feathers for new fabric and praised her creative thinking endlessly. Jiang Li stayed with her for a while. The grandmother and granddaughter were harmonious, increasingly intimate.
When Old Madam Ye grew tired and lay down to rest, Jiang Li left her courtyard. She didn’t return to her own courtyard but walked toward the gate instead.
Tong’er asked, “Miss, are you planning to go out?”
Jiang Li nodded. “Let’s go out for a walk. The weather’s nice today.”
Tong’er and Bai Xue hesitated, then nodded in agreement. The Ye family was different from the Jiang family. At the Jiang family, the gatekeepers would interrogate where Jiang Li was going. Ji Shuran’s people would also secretly observe her every move. But at the Xiangyang Ye family, Jiang Li was absolutely free. No one would spy on where she went or what she did. At least no one in the Ye family would do such things. So relatively speaking, this also facilitated Jiang Li’s own plans.
Jiang Li with Tong’er and Bai Xue first walked around Xiangyang City’s central area for a while. Since her identity as Second Miss Jiang had become known, Jiang Li wore a veiled hat. Tong’er and Bai Xue found novelty in buying small trinkets. Jiang Li watched but showed little interest.
These were things she’d seen many times before, not her first viewing. Naturally, she felt no freshness.
Unknowingly, after walking who knew how long, Tong’er vaguely felt the path Jiang Li took seemed familiar, yet couldn’t remember exactly where she’d seen it. But Jiang Li always had an excellent sense of direction and never took wrong paths. Especially in Xiangyang, it was like she’d been here many times before, very familiar. Therefore, Tong’er and Bai Xue didn’t think much of it.
Until Jiang Li stopped before a large mansion.
Tong’er looked at the familiar mansion, her voice trembling. “Miss, this is Xi… Xi…”
“Xihua Tower.” Jiang Li kindly reminded.
“Xihua Tower!” Tong’er blurted out, then immediately covered her mouth, fearing being seen. She quietly said to Jiang Li, “Miss, why have we come here again?”
After last time at Xihua Tower, for several days Tong’er had been worried and fearful, afraid others would discover an official family’s daughter visiting a brothel. Never imagining that time had just passed, now the nightmare was recurring—Jiang Li had come again!
Could it be her miss had truly taken a fancy to some lady inside? Her miss had no interest in women! Though she’d heard of male escorts, did brothels have male escorts?
As Tong’er’s mind wandered wildly, she heard Jiang Li say, “You needn’t go up. Wait here for me. I’ll return soon.”
Before Tong’er and Bai Xue could dissuade her, Jiang Li walked forward without looking back. They remembered—this was Xihua Tower’s “back entrance.”
Jiang Li walked forward step by step, very determined.
Some time had passed. She’d temporarily resolved the Ye family’s matters. But her true purpose in returning to Xiangyang was only now beginning.
She wondered how Qiongzhi’s inquiries about Tongxiang were going?
Author’s Notes:
Today is 5/21, my little darlings, I love you all~